Need help choosing a new graphics card- upgrading from Intel(R) G33/G3

lostshot

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: this week to around the end of the month
BUDGET RANGE: $50-150
Usage: mostly games without much demand on computers
CURRENT GPU AND POWER SUPPLY: Intel(R) G33/G31 Express Chipset Family and 300w power supply

System
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Manufacturer HP-Pavilion
Model AW012AV-ABA p6280t
Total amount of system memory 6.00 GB RAM
System type 64-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 4

Storage
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Total size of hard disk(s) 596 GB

Graphics
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Display adapter type Intel(R) G33/G31 Express Chipset Family
Total available graphics memory 256 MB
Dedicated graphics memory 0 MB
Dedicated system memory 64 MB
Shared system memory 192 MB
Display adapter driver version 8.15.10.1912
Primary monitor resolution 1600x900
DirectX version DirectX 9.0 or better
I don't know how to check my connections to see if its PCI, PCI EXPRESS or what?
I would like to know what graphics cards i can get and if you need additional info please tell me how to get them.

 

fpoama

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May 17, 2009
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What types of games will you be playing?

From HP's website, you do have a PCI E 16x slot.
Your power supply will be limiting what you can get.
If you keep your current power supply you would probably have to go with a 4670 or similar low/mid range card.

Or you could upgrade your PSU to say a Corsair 400W if you knew you weren't going to do any more major upgrades. And then you could move up to more mid range cards such as 4770/4850/5670 and maybe even 5750.
 
Right now without changing your power supply a 5670 or a 4670 would be a good choice for moderate gaming at 1680x1050 and below. Both cards use about 63 watts of power supplied by the PCIex16 socket, no additional leads from the power supply are needed.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150466

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102854

To upgrade to a more powerful graphic card you'd really need to upgrade your power supply also.

Benchmarks
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5670,2533.html
 

lostshot

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Thanks for the reply. I am currently playing some low requirement games but i do plan to buy some good games like BF BC2 and MW2.
I don't plan on getting a new power supply but i was wondering if i can get even better graphics cards. I heard that some cards don't use up all of the required power and if so will it be safe if i get a card that requires more 300w?
 

fpoama

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You could probably upgrade to a 5670/4670 which would provide much better gaming than your integrated, but I personally wouldn't trust HP PSU's because mine had low amps on the 12v rail.

I personally went from G31 to a 5670 in an HP computer but I also upgraded the power supply to a corsair 400w just to be safe.
 

lostshot

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